"This day at the Library brought lots of smiles, slurpy kisses, and comfort from our Paws to Read dogs to the many families fleeing from the storm."
- Social media post from an ImaginOn staff member

Libraries are a metaphorical shelter for many of us. This month, the shelter was real.

Our Library - and libraries around the country - provided resources and comfort to individuals and families evacuating their homes in advance of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Families found activities for children, a place to rest and an escape into books at Library locations across the County. 

This wasn't the first time, and surely it won't be the last that libraries provide calm, normalcy, and information in an emergency. After last year's protests in Charlotte following the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott, our uptown branch offered a place of peace in a divided city. Following a major hurricane in 2015, our colleagues at Richland County Library in South Carolina turned their facilities into water distribution centers. Libraries are trusted, accessible institutions and a natural place to gather in a crisis. So much so that libraries nationally are developing and sharing a toolkit of resources for responding to a disaster.

Libraries are safe, free, and here to help - and in a time of trauma, something as simple as a smile and a storytime can make a world of difference. Thank you for caring for one another, and for all you do to help our Library improve lives and build a stronger community.

Warmly,


Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE
Executive Director

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